In the Long Run

In an email, my son mentioned a story about a high school student who was reprimanded for alleged hate speech. I was astonished to see that nearly 3000 messages were posted in less than a day on a message board about the story. Ironically, many of the messages, some condemning and some condoning the disciplinary actions taken on the girl, contained hate speech themselves.

It reminds me of the irony of political correctness. There are certain things we, as a society, are not supposed to say or do or admit to thinking, because they are not “politically correct.” And if we do, we are castigated publicly as being intolerant and discriminatory and close-minded. But why is it not intolerant for the PC gang to disparage and condemn my opinion if it happens to contradict theirs? Often, it seems, politically correct guidelines are based on arrogant and self-serving interests of those who advocate them.

I agree that prejudice and intolerance are divisive attitudes that can ravel the fabric of society. People should strive to respect each other, and acknowledge and appreciate beneficial diversity. But I contend that not all behavior or opinions deemed politically incorrect are true prejudice or intolerance—rather, some can more correctly be defined as contrary beliefs held by rational, intelligent people who have substantive moral grounds for respectfully defying such “political correctness”. I should not be labeled politically incorrect, or maligned just because I disagree with a popular interpretation of morality. Those who do so are hypocritically intolerant of me.

Posted by Cyppy at 9:31 PM